By Ryan Scott
The Herald Banner
COMMERCE, Texas — The bat-signal must have been shining over Commerce on Dec. 11, as a local boy suffering from leukemia got a visit from the caped crusader on Sunday afternoon.
Zachary Madden, a student at A. C. Williams Elementary School in Commerce, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on Nov. 16 of this year.
He has been staying at Children’s Hospital in Dallas for much of the time since being diagnosed. He had been doing well, but someone in the Commerce community thought he could use a hero.
Commerce Police Chief Kerry Crews got in contact with a friend of his, Damon Cole, a Fort Worth police officer. Cole runs the website heroesandcopsagainstchildhoodcancer.org, where he travels across the country to visit children struggling with cancer while he dresses as their favorite superhero.
Crews got in touch with him, and wanted him to visit Madden, who’s favorite superhero is Batman.
“Damon was all set to see Zachary while he was in the hospital,” Crews said. “But his schedule wouldn’t allow for it, so he had to find a different day.”
Luckily for Madden, his health had improved and he was able to go home for his ninth birthday over the weekend. Crews said that Cole had an opportunity to come, so he didn’t pass up the chance to drive out to Commerce.
Upon arriving in his custom Dodge Charger decked out with superhero logos, Cole got a police escort from Crews and on-duty members of the Commerce Police Department. Batman strolled up to the front door, and was answered by Madden himself, who couldn’t contain his excitement.
“Zachary just lit up when he saw Batman,” Crews said. “You could tell we helped brighten his day.”
Madden got a tour of Cole’s custom car, as well as a Commerce police car. Cole said later in a Facebook post that he was “honored to be able to make this day special for Zachary and his family,” but that he “couldn’t have done it if not for Chief Crews and the officers of the Commerce Police Department.”
Madden has returned to Children’s Hospital for continued treatment. Madden will still be able to attend school, as Commerce ISD was the recipient of a special remote controlled robot furnished by Medical City Hospital and Region 10.
Those wishing to give a monetary donation to help Zachary and the family can do so online at www.gofundme.com/ya-zach.